Packing for college is not for the weak, especially as a first year who has to prepare for all the “what ifs” of living by myself for the first time. By the time I had narrowed down all my possessions to the items coming with me to college, I thought for sure I could not possibly have missed anything. This could not have been farther from the truth, though, as my long receipt of Amazon orders within the first few weeks can attest to. In my opinion, these items deserve a place in your travel basket next time you’re on your way back to Grounds from home.
- Cold Medicine
I naively assumed that I would be spared of the so-called “frat flu” that has been known to plague college students, and, therefore, left the bulk of my cold medicine at home. Unfortunately, within the first month of college, I think it is safe to say most people I knew, including myself, were running out of tissues and downing cough drops. It was not long before a drawer in my dorm became dedicated to Mucinex and Sudafed among other medicines I had collected after one too many visits to CVS and the Student Health and Wellness Center. I would stock up on some medicine at home to save you time and money.
2. Extra Deodorant
Since deodorant is a hygiene must-have, I did in fact bring one stick of deodorant to college. The key word is “one” because I quickly found myself wishing I had brought more from my house. The Virginia heat is no joke and paired with the long distances that I had to cover going to classes, I found myself wanting to keep another deodorant in my backpack in addition to the one at my dorm for those hot and sweaty days. It would’ve been a better idea if I had brought some more so I would have had a backup immediately when the original ran out.
3. “Frat Shoes”
I bought a new pair of Karlie Kloss Adidas shoes that I predetermined would be my go-to shoe for any type of event. To my dismay, after just one night of experiencing fraternity parties, the spotless white shoes were already muddy and, well, not spotless. It was at that moment I retired those shoes and set out to look for a new pair of cheaper shoes that I would not mind getting dirty. I ended up finding a pair of cream Reebok sneakers on sale at T.J. Maxx. From my experience, the key is to have a pair of shoes on hand that you would be okay taking a picture in and also okay with getting stepped on by other dirty shoes. I would advise to put a pair of this type of multi-purpose shoe on your holiday wish list for when you visit home again
4. A phone wallet
On a night out, the bare minimum essentials are your IDs and potentially a credit card. It did not take long for me to discover a purse to hold these items could end up lost or bump into things during a night out. My first thought to solve this problem was storing those cards in a phone case, but that too created an unneeded hassle. That is when I discovered the phone wallet, which can simply hold your cards on the outside of your phone, and I would advise you all to discover it as well. It can never get lost since it is attached to the one item I am constantly checking for, my phone. In addition, it is so small and lightweight that it will hold your cards without getting in the way of you using your phone normally. It’s also easier to get into dorm rooms when your student ID is always with you!
5. A friend who knows how to braid
With my curly hair pattern, French braids are always the perfect hairstyle to keep my hair from frizzing in hot weather and would be great for the long college days. Unfortunately, my personal hair braider — my hometown best friend — has now gone off to pursue other clients. Essentially, she has gone to a different college. So I am in need of a new designated hair-braiding friend since I can not french braid my own hair. If you can relate to my dilemma, I suggest you start studying up on some braiding tutorials pronto until you find a replacement braider.
6. Air mattress
Have you ever had a friend ask to stay over in your dorm while they come to visit you? What about a younger sibling who wants to experience the college dorm experience? An air mattress has been a recent purchase that has proved very useful for overnight guests in our suite. In our suite-style dorm, we are able to set it up in our common room along with a blanket and pillows. It may not be a needed purchase for every living style, but, if you have the space, it can really be of use for when your hometown friend comes to visit you for the weekend but does not want to spend money on a hotel — definitely not speaking from personal experience.
7. Tech to support your learning style
Going into college I brought my Macbook, my iPhone and a pair of AirPods. I had given much more than enough of my money to Apple with these purchases. However, I soon realized I was missing one member of the Apple family — an iPad. After observing how the majority of students take notes in college, I felt I should buy an iPad to be able to digitally hand write my notes. As many of my professors have told me, handwriting notes as opposed to typing them helps the information stick in your memory better. Plus, I can now write on top of the slides that my professor posts, which helps me save time and highlight what is important. I have to admit that having nearly the whole ecosystem has made my learning easier, and, who knows, I may just keep adding to it.
8. Business casual clothes
While I assumed that you would only need to pack business casual if you were pursuing a career that would require that, my friend’s experience has proved otherwise. Just the other day my friend was invited to a dome dinner for an organization she joined, and she looked at the dress code, which said “Business Casual.” Unfortunately, the sundresses she had packed were probably not going to cut it, and so Amazon, yet again, became the best friend who always comes in clutch. I would recommend you bring back some business casual clothes the next time you visit home.
9. Shower storage
This purchase pertains to people who are not using communal bathrooms — my sincere condolences if you are. My suitemates and I recently bought shower storage which has made for such a relaxing shower experience. With over-the-door hooks we put on our shower door and suction cupped shelving we attached to the shower walls, we can permanently leave our shampoos, conditioners and body scrubs in the shower. It is almost like being at home — emphasis on almost. In my opinion, if you live in a suite-style dorm, you should grab some shower storage on your next visit home.
10. Something — or someone — to kill bugs
You really can never predict the disgusting insects that may jump-scare you while in your dorm, but I would say be prepared for it all. So far, I have seen ants, beetles and spiders in my dorm and common area, and I really hope I do not have to add to that list. Being that my dad was my designated bug killer back home, I am currently on the search for someone to fill that position here at college. Until then, I would get some bug spray from home so you can avoid spending 15 minutes attempting to stomp on a large black dot that turned out to be a beetle right after waking up. It was not a pleasant experience for me or the beetle for that matter.
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